A strong majority - 59% – of Overland Park voters believe city tax increases hurt the local economy. Twenty-one percent (21%) of voters believe tax increases help the economy. Fifteen percent (15%) believe there is no impact on the economy, and 6% are undecided.

When it comes to cuts in city government spending, a plurality – 44% - believe they help the local economy. Twenty-seven percent (27%) believe spending cuts hurt the local economy, 22% believe there is no impact on the economy, and 7% are undecided.

Our own results among Overland Park voters compare closely with national results by the respected polling firm Rasmussen Reports. On April 30, 2011, Rasmussen wrote:

“A new Rasmussen Reports national telephone survey finds that 53% of Likely U.S. Voters say, generally speaking, tax cuts help the economy. Most voters have shared that sentiment in surveys for years. Only 21% believe tax cuts hurt the economy, while 13% say they have no impact. Another 13% are not sure. (to see survey question wording, click here.) A plurality (48%) of voters say decreases in government spending will help the economy. Twenty-nine percent (29%) say cutting government spending will hurt the economy. Ten percent (10%) believe such decreases will have no impact, while 13% are not sure. These findings, too, have remained fairly consistent over the years.”

A Kansas City Stareditorial tells us the “bold” choices being offered by Overland Park City Manager Bill Ebel: “One plan from Ebel would boost the city’s mill levy by 46 percent and bring in more than $10 million a year in new revenue. The other option, a 41 percent increase, would create an extra $9 million annually.” (more…)